How to Make A $1,000 Cigar

Salvatore Parisi is a cigar fanatic. His collection, valued at $2.5 million, boasts 60,000 Cubans, including a 25-year-old Dunhill Estupendo, said to be worth $1,200. Also earning coveted space in his humidor are 15 Cohiba Behikes, which run about $750 each.

What makes a cigar that expensive? The making of a good cigar is as artful a process as the creation of a glittery piece of jewelry. Both command their value from the quality of their raw materials and manufacturing craftsmanship. Market factors, of course, also play a role. Roll your mouse over the icons below to learn more about how cigars are made.